LOWELL -- Fire Chief Edward Pitta had only three years under his belt when he responded to a catastrophic fatal fire on Decatur Street.

The year was 1982. Eight people were killed in the blaze at 32-36 Decatur St. Weeks later, Victor Rosario was sentenced to life in prison for alleged arson and homicide. Rosario was released last week on bail after his verdict was overturned following 32 years behind bars.

Pitta said he remembers the blaze vividly. Last Thursday morning, as he watched his crew respond to another devastating scene developing on Branch Street, he said he remembered how in his 35 years on the job, this wasn't the first large fatal fire he'd experienced.

"I had been on less than three years," he recalled. "And back then, critical-incident stress management for first responders really had yet to be born. Back then, you just sucked it up."

Pitta said there's no doubt in his mind some of his crew were traumatized by last Thursday's blaze, in which seven people were killed including three young children.

The state Fire Marshal's Office said Tuesday the fire at 77-85 Branch St. had the largest number of fatalities the state has seen in two decades. Pitta reflected on the investigation after it was revealed the fire was accidental and caused by an electrical problem at an afternoon press conference at the Branch Street Fire Station.

Advertisement

"That just makes it even more of a tragedy, the realization these things can happen even in a compliant building. That's just the nature of fire," Pitta said. "Perhaps if there were reasons (like that as to why) this happened, people could better understand. But there were none. So what are the answers? It was just a terrible, terrible accident."

Soth Sar, 43, was one of five rescued from her third-floor apartment last week.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey, left, and state police Sgt. Stephen Cunningham show a mock-up of the Branch Street apartment building during Tuesday's press conference. SUN / BOB WHITAKER

From a motel room in Billerica Tuesday, she reflected on her harrowing experience, escaping out a window with assistance of the Fire Department.

"The smoke came over us. It came out of nowhere," she said, adding she tried to wake her guests sleeping in her house. "I opened the bedroom door and they were still in bed."

Sopheun Vann, 38, came to visit Sar and was only living in the apartment two weeks before the fire struck.

"I feel bad," he said after hearing the latest news out of press conference. "I almost died."

Bopha Malone, board president of Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, said the fire struck in the heart of the city's "Cambodiatown." She said news the building was in good working order and alarm systems were working encouraged her to spread more awareness to fellow Cambodian residents.

"I'm happy it's not a homicide or anything like that, but at the same time, I think it's a horrible accident and it reminds us to keep in mind how we can help to educate the community about fire safety and safety concerns," she said.

After learning the news the Branch Street building was up to code, Malone said the CMAA will host more informational events and is also working with other nonprofits in the area to host more fundraisers for victims and survivors.

Both Mayor Rodney Elliott and City Manager Kevin Murphy said they hope the tragedy reminds residents to remain vigilant in ensuring their appliances and electronics are in good working order.

Murphy said he was there last Thursday morning and saw how shaken first responders and victims were on scene.

"I still remember faces of the firefighters. You could see the trauma in their faces," he said. "So I'm just so proud of the first responders and all the employees at City Hall, the employees in the Building Department, the Code Department, the Senior Center who took care of these people. It showed me Lowell is a very resilient community."

Saody Ouch, a landlord in the abutting house on Queen Street to the Branch Street fire scene, said she is still disturbed by the fire. She lives in her apartment with two young boys and they were awoken as the neighborhood was evacuated. Ouch said extreme heat from the fire cracked all the windows in her home.

Ouch said she knew the family who perished and her children are terrified an event like that could strike their home. The burned-out building can be seen out their bedroom window, and as a storm swept through Tuesday, 8-year-old Archie Hem asked his mother if a tornado could roll through Lowell.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.